In recent
years, energy issues have assumed an increasingly prominent place in discussions on how to achieve sustainable development.
Energy security is now a key concern as uncertainties over oil and
gas supplies, and a seemingly inexorable rise in demand, send prices
spiraling to record levels. At the same time, the need to respond
seriously to climate change has raised the profile of renewable
energies and the focus on new and emerging clean technologies… article continues
Chris Spence
Managing Editor, Linkages Update and Deputy Director, IISD RS

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Rome,
25 February—The
thirteenth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on
Scientific, Technical and Technological
Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) has forwarded
seven recommendations to the ninth
Conference of the Parties, although they
contain a number of bracketed, or
unresolved, issues. The SBSTTA convened from
18-22 February 2008, in Rome, Italy,
immediately following the second meeting of
the Convention’s Working Group on Protected
Areas. Unresolved issues that will be
forwarded to the COP in May 2008 include:
biofuels in the context of agricultural and
forest biodiversity; options for the
consideration of genetically modified trees;
marine and coastal biodiversity; an expert
group on biodiversity and climate change;
and references to climate change mitigation
measures. More.

Beijing,
24 February—A
seminar held in Beijing, China, has focused
on the technical and financial aspects of
project development to support
climate-friendly technologies in Asia. The
Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) Industry
Joint Seminar on Diffusion of
Climate-Friendly Technologies in Asian
Countries took place from 21-22 February
2008, and included sessions on technologies
to support energy efficiency in industrial
sectors, renewable energy technologies, and
project financing. More.

Addis
Ababa, 24 February—The
Expert Group Meeting on Land for Sustainable
Urbanisation in Africa has been held in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 21-22 February
2008. The event was convened to prepare for
the thematic reviews on Land and Africa at
the upcoming sixteenth session of the UN
Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD-16), which will take place in New York,
US, from 5-16 May 2008. More.

Monaco,
24 February—The
tenth special session of the UN Environment
Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global
Ministerial Environment Forum (GCSS-10/GMEF)
was held in Monaco, from 20-22 February
2008. The meeting adopted decisions on
UNEP’s Medium-term Strategy for 2010-2013,
the Global Environmental Outlook, chemicals
management, mercury and waste management,
the sustainable development of the Arctic
region, and the International Decade for
Combating Climate Change. More.

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